Abstract

At the end of 2009, six food poisoning outbreaks caused by staphylococci were reported in France. Soft cheese made from unpasteurised milk was found to be the common source of the outbreaks. Staphylococcal enterotoxin type E was identified and quantified in the cheese using both official and confirmatory methods of the European Union Reference Laboratory (EU-RL). To our knowledge, this is the first report of food poisoning outbreaks caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin type E in France.

World Antibiotic Awareness Week on 12–18 November increases global awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and encourages best practices among health workers, policy makers and the general public to avoid the further emergence and spread of AMR. Read our Editorial on AMR surveillance in Europe and beyond.